Coal-washing apparatus



My 27, 1930, A. wlTzAl. ET AL 1,760,293

COAL WASHING APPARATUS I Filed Jan. l2. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l A TTORNE Y.

Mayzv, 1930. AfwlTZAL Erm. 1,760,293

' COAL WASHING APPARATUS ATTORNEY.

.percentage of refuse matter,-

Patentd May 27, 1930 UNITED sita-'rissI PATENT. OFFICE] ANDREW WlTZAI, OF SCRANTON, ANTHONY G. BABEL, 0F THOOP, A ND A STEVENS, OF DUNMORE, l:PENNSYLVANIA COAL-WASHING APPARATUS Application mea January 12, 1927. serial No. 160,551.-

Our invention relates to coal washing apparatus of the character in which a stream of water, preferably under constant pressure, is delivered into a tank or receptacle underneath an'inclined screen onto which the coal` to be washed is delivered, the water flowing upwardly through the said screen to eHect separation of the coal from the refuse such as slate, stone, etc. The coal being' of less specilic gravity than the refuse is carried upwardly and is ultimately discharged through outlets provided therefor, while the 'refuse is discharged through an opening at or.4 adjacent the lower edge of the screen. v

In the operation or working of apparatus ofthis character it is desirable that means be g provided whereby the 'discharge of the refuse is automatically controlled, and that such control be dependent upon the condition of the material being washed or treated as to the amount or percentage of refuse which may -be present therein.

The tank of the apparatus is divided into 'two compartments connected with each other by a passageway. The water in one of these compartments is practically quiescent while through the other a stream of water is Howing continuously to eii'ect separation of the coal and the refuse matter. The top orlevel of the water in the irst named compartment varies in height depending upon the resistance which may be oiered to the flow of the said stream through the other of the said compartments. Such resistance varies with the stone, etc., of relatively great specic gravity which may be present in the coal which is being'washed or separated. If vthe resistance to the iow of water upwardly through the second named compartment be increased the height of the water in the irst named compartment rises while on the other hand if the resistance to such ow he decreased so that the water may flow freely through the said second named compartment the height of the Waterin the rst named compartment drops to a lower level. Advantage may be taken of the variation of the height of the water in the first named compartment to conspecic including slate,l

Vwill become apparent therefrom.

maar 1r.

For the moresuccessful operation of an' apparatus of the character or type under consideration it is desirable that some meansbe provided for regulating the discharge of the refuse matter, such as slate, stone, etc., from the screen previouslyA referred Ito after the same has been separated from the coal; hence, itis a g eral object of the present invention to provi means of novel construction for controlling and regulating the discharge of the refuse matterfromthe screen after the separation of the same from the coal, the gravity of the refuse matter being reater than that of the c oal. v

It also is an object of the-invention to vprovide means for regulatingthe discharge of refuse from the separation compartment, .the operation ofwhich means is controlled by the condition of the coal to be washed as vto the of the refuse 'sus` stone, etc., therein.

Another object vide means of novel construction which is of the invention is to pro-vl adapted to regulate the discharge of refuse material from the coal washing compartment,

the operation of which means is controlled by.

the variation of the height of water in one .of the compartments into which the tank of the coal washingapparatus is divided.

We shall not at this time undertake to enumerate all of the objects and the advantages of our invention, or which may be incident thereto,.but various other objects and advantages thereof will be pointed outin the de/t'ailed description thereof which follows, or

In order that the invention may be readily understood and its manifold. practical advantages more fully appreciated, reference should be had to the accompanyingvdrawing in which we have illustrated different forms of convenient mechanical embodiments of the invention. However, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedin other forms of construction than that shown vand that changes of various kinds and'of different degrees of importance may be made within the scope of the claims wit-hout departing from the said invention.

In the drawing,-

Fig. 1 is a view in vertical longitudinal section of a coal washing apparatus provided with the invention, the features of construction embodying the said invention being for the most part, shown in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view taken alon the line 2-2-0 Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken ron the line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 in which 1s shown a slightly modified construction embodyingthe invention; and

Fig. 5 is a horizontal view partly in section and partly in plan view taken along the line In they drawing we have shown a tank 1 of usual construction comprising a compartment 2 into which water is delivered from a pipe 3. The latter has connection witha pump (not shown) of any known construction to which water may be drawn through a pipe 4 from a tank 5. A screen 10 of anyknown const-ruction is mounted within the tank 1 and extends across the compartment 2 a distance above the point of delivery of water from the pipe 3 into the said compartment so as to form a separating compartment which islocated above said screen. The 'coal to be washed is delivered from a chute 11 into the'compartment 2 onto the screen 10. The compartment 2 is provided in its upper portion with an adjustable. baille plate 15 of known construction and operation. The flow of the water upwardly through the compartment 2 through the mixt-ure of coal and refuse (including slate, stone or the like) on the screen l() eii'ects separation of the'former from-the latter. The coal is carried upwardly over the top edge of the cross-wise extending plate 16 into a section havingl an angular longitudinally extending member 17 therein the opposite sides of which are inclined toward the opposite edges of the structure so as to direct thel coal to the outlet passageways 2O and 21 at the opposite-sides of the apparatus as shown.

It may be noted that the coal which escapes through the openings 20 and 21 is conducted or carried through chutes 22 which join to form a single chute 23 which conducts the same to its destination. These chutes are perforated so as to permit the water whichgflows out with the 'Coal to fall on a cover 24 from which it is conducted into the tank 5 to which previous reference has been made. The coal discharge openings 2() and 21 'are controlled by adjustable doors or lgates in known manner, as shown.

In order toregulate and control the height of water in the compartment 2 and inthe section into which the coal 'is delivered from said compartment after it has been cleaned,

we have provided an opening 24a in a side wall of the tank structure-which is adapted to be controlled by a door or gate 24", which may be elevated or lowered in known manner.

The tank is also provided with a compartment 25 which is separated from the section into which the cleaned coal is delivered by means of a partition 26 which extends across the upper portion of the tank structure. The compartment 255i's in direct communication with the compartment 2 through openings 27 and 29 only, and it is in communication with ment of which is eHected by means of adjusting means indicated at 31 in known manner.

The refuse, after it asses through the dis- -charge opening 29,

ows or moves over a hinged plate or lip portion 35 which is unperforated and which is provided with upwardly extending sides 37 at its opposite ends. The said plate or lip 35 ishinge'd at its rear edge as shown at its rear edge as shown at 38 -in Fig. 1 or as shown at 39 in Fig. 4. The refuse, after it is delivered inally from the forward swinging edge of the plate or lip 35, falls into a section or. portion 40 of the tank structure fromwhich it is removed by an endless con- 'veyor 41 operating in known manner.

We have provlded means of somewhat dlfferentconstruction in Figs. 1 to 3 and Figs. 4 and 5 forei'ecting swinging movements of the-plate or lip 35 on its pivot. In-Figs. 1 to 3 we have shown for this purpose a lever 45 pivoted intermediate its ends upon a pivot 46. The pivot 46 is vmounted upon a stationary part of the tank structure. The rear end of the said lever is connected by means of-"a link 47 to the -forward edge'portion of the plate or lip 35. Such 'connection is made through the medium of a short projecting bracket 48. The opposite forward end of the lever 45 is connected to an upwardly extending float rod or bar 50, theupper end portion of which extends through a bracket plate 51 and is adapted to move or reciprocate therethrough. Mounted upon the upper portion thereof is a float-55 which is adapted to be adjusted into different positions thereon by means of adjusting nuts 56 located above and below the same as is lclearly shown. It is quite apparent that by adjustmentof these nuts in one direction or the other upon screw threaded portions of the bar or rod 50 the ioat 55 may be adjusted into different positions upon the said bar or rod. In order yto limit the extent of movement of the rod or bar 50 we have provided the adjustable nuts 60 and 61 upon its upper end portion which are located upon the opposite Ysides of the stationary bracket plate 51. It may be found to be desirable to limit the extent of the swinging movements of the hinged plate or.

lip 35 and this ma be done byadjustment of either or both of t e nuts 60 and 61 toward or from each other. By decreasing the distance between the nuts 60 and 61'by an adjustment of either or both thereof, the limit of movement of the rod or bar 50, as well as of the swinging movement ofthe hinged plate or lip 35 is decreased, and b increasin the distance between Arsaid nuts t e limit o such .movements, is increased.u

'I he iioat'previously referred to rests upon the water within the iioat compartment and the water in the said compartment is in a comparatively quiescent state. In other 4or lip. The length of the rod 62 is ren ered adjustable by means of a turn-buckle 64'.' The upper end of the rod is connected to one end, of a'lever 65 pivoted intermediate its ends 'at 66 to a pivot pin upon a stud or projection 67 which extends upwardly from the top of the tank structure. The opposite end of the lever 65 is connected to the upper end of a float rod 68, which extends downwardly into the water in the compartment 25. The lower end of' the said rod extends through a hole or openv ing in a plate'bracket 69 and is thereby guided.

A float is adjustably mounted upon the said rod and rests upon the top of the water in the compartment 25.

The rod 62 extends downwardly through a tube 71 which projects upwardly from the portion 17 to which previous reference has been made. The arrangement as shown; in Figs. 4 and 5 enables the location of the lower end portion of the rod 62 at or about the longi Ytudinal centen of the structure, and avoids the necessity of laterally bending the same, as is the case with the rod'50 shown in Fig. 3.

In both forms of construction counter-balance weights 7 2 may be mounted upon the upper side of the floats 55 and 70 for the purpose and the parts associated therewith must be ofvvarying the weight to properly counterbalance the weiglht of the plate or lip 35 and:

of any refuse w ich may be present thereon. For instance, as has already been indicated, when the height of the waterin the com,-Y partment 25 becomes lowered vdueto causes hereinbefore stated, the weight of the iioat 7 0 sufficient to overcome the portion of the structure on the opposite side of the pivot 4.6 or 66 as the case may be, and of the plate or lip 35 and the refuse thereon in= order that the same may be lifted into substantially horizontal positlon as shown in dotted lines in Figs.

1 and 1 in'order that the refuse may be rey tained upon the said plate or lip. By adjust` ing the weight of the float by the addition or removal of any or all of the weights 72 therefrom the desired balanced condition may be obtained. v

In both forms of construction slush valves 7 8 and 79 are provided in the bottom of the tank structure, and also -in both forms of construction slush Vvalves and 81 are provided in the bottom of the tank 5.

These slush valves are for the usual purpose and need not be described o r referred to more at length.

It is preferable that the adjustable gate 30 previously referred to and shown inboth forms of construction be provided with a ange of considerable width which extends inwardly and rearwardly therefrom so .that it overlies the forward portion of the screen 10 in rear of the opening 29 through which the refuse previously referred to is discharged. The presence of this ange aids in preventing the passage ofvcoal through'the refuse discharge opening29, but as the provision of .this fiange constitutes no part of our vinvention we shall not refer further thereto. j

In order that the invention may be more clearly and definitely understood it should be pointed out that in the operation of a wash# ing apparatus of this character it is necessary from a practical standpoint that there be maintained at all times upon4 the hinged plate or lip 35 a bed of refuse 9 0 which generally is somewhat of the shape in cross sec# tion as indicated in. Fig. -1 of the drawing. If

such bed be not present the result will be that' as the operating conditions vary a considerable quantity of coal may be discharged through the opening 29 intended only for Y.

refuse matter. A method of operation or an apparatus which should permit lor allow of such Waste would' be impractical.. Hence the desirability of means for actuating and adj usting the plateor lip 35 to correspond and harmonize with the condition of the coal as to'the percentage of refuse matter therein in order that a bed of refuse matter may be mailiitained at all times upon the said plate or.

Asisuming an operating condition in which there is a largepercentage of refuse including slate, stone or other `material relatively 12ol y great in-specific gravity, it will be found to 'l u offer greater resistance to the flow of Water upwardly through the compartment to and through the body of mater-iai beingtreated.

As a result of such increased resistance it will be found that the height or top level of the water inthe compartment 25 (the lower portion of which is 1n communication with -will be increased. In consequence of such trated in Figs. 1 and 4.0i:` the drawings, but

it `may occupy lower or more greatly incllned position.

Assumlng now another condltlon 1n whichA the coal which is being washed contains either l lnone or a very. small percentage of refuse maorswinging plate 35 upwardly into a less incllned position than that`shown. It-.may

terial the resistance offered to the upward flow loiwater through the compartment to and through the screen would be substan-b tially decreased. As a resultl ofsuch decrease of resistance the height or top level of the water in the tank would descend to a lower level in consequence of which the float or 70 with the rod or bar-50 or 68 upon which it is mounted would descend, effecting upward movement of the rear end' portion' of the'lever 45 or 65 to lift the pivoted assume a substantially horizontal position and thereby retain the bed-of refuse 90 thereoneven though -for a period no addition to such material is being made. If the bed `of refuse material 90 were removedfrom the plate or lip 35. the result would be, as has all' ready'been indicated,that some coal, a greater or less amount, would be allowed to pass through the refuse discharge lopening 29 whereby unnecessary waste would result;

' The variation in the height of the water in the compartment 25 due to avariation inthe resistance offered to the flow of the water upwardly through the compartment 2 is in accordance with a well known law ofvhydro-- Statics, andthese applicants have made use of such varlati'on in the height or top level of the Water in the said compartment for automatically regulating and controlling'the position of the plate gv or lip 35 and thereby controlhngand regulating'the discharge of the refuse material therefrom.

Although we have describedour inventionl 'as applled to an apparatus for washing coal,

' we do .not wish to be understood'as limiting i i v or for which it may be adapted.

the same to an apparatus for Y that specific purpose, but on the contrary make claim to the same for the purpose of washing and separating material of any other character to Having thus described-our invention, what we l( :laim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent 1s,\-'` I 1. In a coal washingxapparatus, the combination of a tank comprising arcouple of compartments through one of which water Hows l and inthe other of which the water is conincassa flow of water through the liirst named compartment operatin to separate the coal from cie gravity than the coal,"the said first named compartment having a screen bottom upon which the slate and other refuse matter settles and also having a front wall having an opening at the lower edge thereof through which' the said slate and other refuse matter is discharged, said opening constituting a passage for water from the rst to the second named lcompartment and through which the twoslate and other re use matter of higher specompartments are in direct communication,

the height of the water inthe said second compartment varying with the percentage of slate and other refuse in the coal being washed, a hinged ,plate extending forwardly frdm the lower edge of the discharge opening for the slateand other refuse matter separated from the coal, and means adapted to be controlled by variation of the height of the water in the .,said second named compartment for adjusting the said hinged plate into different posiv of the water in the second named compart' 5" ment varying as the percentage of refuse in the said coal varies, the coal and the refuse being separated from each other by the actlon of the water thereon in the first named'com- I partment, one wall of the said first named compartment being provided with an opening through which the refuse is discharged, said refuse discharge opening constituting a passage for water from the first mentioned compartment to the second, a hinged plate beyond said opening onto which saidrefuse is delivered, and means controlled by the variation of the height of the water in the second named compartment for varying the position of the said plate about its hinge axis.

e 3. In a coal washing apparatus, the combination of a tank having a plurality of compartments, one of said compartments being provided with a screen extending acrossl the same a distance above the lower end thereof, which screen terminates at its forward edge adjacent an opening through the front wall of the said compartment, and means for delivering coal to be washed into the saidcom# partment and onto the said screen, means for delivering waterunder pressure to the said compartment underneath the said screen, the said water flowing upwardly through the said screen.. and through the said compartment to eiiect separation of the ,coalfrom the refuse and the latter moving outwardly and through the said opening, a plate pivoted at ward ed e of the said screen,

its rear edge in adjacent relation to the forsaid plate projecting orwardly and being downwardly inclined and being adapted to receive the refuse from the said compartment, and another of said plurality of compartments containing water in a more-or less quiescent state the height of which varies with the percentage of refuse in the said coal, the said opening through theront wall of the irst mentioned compartment and a passage for water'from the said first mentioned compartment to the second, a float supported upon the top of the water in the sai second compartment, and a connection between the said float and the said pivoted plate whereby variation of the height of the water in the second named compartment causes variations in the angle of inclination of the said plate, substantially as described.-

4. In a coal washing apparatus, the combination of a tank having two compartments through'one of which water is adapted to iiow. and the other one of which is adapted tsp (tzontain water in a more or less quiescent a e, intothe first named compartment to be acted upon by the water lowin therethrough to effect separation ofany `re A se which may be present fromthe coal, the height of the water in the secondA named compartment varying as the percentage of refuse varies, and the first named compartment being provided with an opening through which the refuse separated from, the coal is discharged, the said opening constituting a passage for water from the first named compartment to the second, 'a hinged plate onto which the said refuse is discharged, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends, means for connecting one end ofvsaid lever to the lsaid pivoted plate a distance from the hinge supports therefor, a oat supported on the top of the water in the second named compartment, and means for connecting the ppposite end of the said lever to the said float.

`5. In a coal washing apparatus, the com- A bination of a tankcomprising a couple of refuseas itis compartments, means be washed into one of said compartments, means for causing water to liow upwardly through said compartment to eiiect separation of any reiusewhich may be .present from the coal, said compartment being-provided with an opening through which separated refuse is discharged, said refuse dischar e opening constituting la passage for water om the first to the second named compartment, a plate hinged on its rear edge and supported in position to -receive the discharged from the said compartment, the height of the water in the second named compartment varying as the percentage of refuse in the said coal varies, a lever vpivoted intermediate its ends upon a Istationary pivot, means constltuting a refuse dischargel v discharge opening constituting a means for delivering coal to be washed -is supportedupon for limiting for delivering coal tov the end of said lever to the said late a distance. from the axis of'its hinge, a ar having con# nection to the oppositea end oft-said lever and extending upwardly through the water in the second named compartment, means for holding the said ar in an u right position, a lioat mounted upon said is supported upon the top of the water v1n the said second named compartment, and means for adjustment ofmthe iioat upon the said. bar. 6. In a coal washing apparatus, the combination of al tank comprising a plurality of compartments, means for delivering coal to be washed into one of asaid compartments, means for causing water to ow upwardly through the said compartment to effect sepa# ration of any refuse which may be present from the coal, said compartment being provided with an opening through-.which the separated refuse is discharged, said refuse passage for water JfromI the first to the. second named compartment, a plate hinged on its rear edge and supported in position to receive the refuse as it is discharged -from the said compartment, the height of the water. in the sec'- ond named compartment varying as the percentage of refuse in the said coal varies, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends -upon a stationary pivot, means for connecting' one end of saidlever to the said plate a distance from the axis of its hinge, nection to the opposite end of said lever and extending upwardly through the water 1n the seond named compartment, means .for holding the said bar in an upright position, a float mounted upon said bar which ioat the top of the water in the said second named compartment, and means the extent of movement of the said bar under the iniuence of the said float. 7. A coal washing apparatus comprising a tank having a compartment provided with a screen Aplate which extends there-across,

for connecting one ar which iioat 4 a bar .having conlos' means for delivering coal to be washed'into the said compartment onto thelsaid screenV flow plate,n means for causing Water to late through said compartment and screen for eiecting separation of the coal an the -the said plate extending forwardly Afrom the said screen plate and the -said, opening, the said tank having 'a second compartment in spaced relation to the first named compartment, means providing a pas-A sageway between the bottom portions of the Asaid compartments whereby water may pass the said compartment having a dischargev from the first to the second named compartmentthe water in thev second named compartment being in a more or less quiescent state, and the water in the said 'passageway forming a liquid connection between the water in the two compartments so that the height-of the water in the said second named compartment may vary with the resistance offered by the coal being treated in the first named compartment, and a float located in the second named compartment and having connection withthe front edge of said hinged plate and operating to vary the position of the said plate to correspond with the variation in the top level of the water in the said second compartment to control the discharge of refuse substances from said plate.

8. A coal washing apparatus comprising a tank divided into two compartments in one of which the coal is adapted to be separated from refuse substance therein by the action of vwater in motion therein and in the other of which water is contained ina quiescent state, thefirst named comlpartment having a screen bottom on which t e said refuse substance settles, the front-wall of the .first named compartment being provided with an openmg through which the said refuse substance is discharged, the said opening also constituting a (passage for water from the `first to the secon named compartment, a'plate hinged at its rear edge to the said front wall adjacent the lower edge of said opening, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends upon the ,upper portion of the said tank, a rod having connection at its lower end to the forward swingl i-ng edgeof the said hinged plate and at its ,upper end to the rear endof the said lever, a

float rod having connection at its upper end to the front end' of the said lever, said float rod extending downwardly into the secondl named compartment in which water in a quiescent state is contained and a float mounted upon the said lioat rod and resting upon thetop of the water in the said second named compartment, the position of the said float andthe parts having connectiontherewith being controlled* by the height of the water in the said compartment.l

9. In apparatus for washing coal to sep- `arate therefrom slate and other refuse of higher specic gravity than the coal,the combination of water supply means, a hydraulic separating compartment having a screen bottom through which water flows i from said supply means to-eifect separation of the coal from the slate and other refuse matter, the said screen bottom constituting a support for the slate and other refuse mat- -ter settling thereon,.aseparate,water containingcompartment, the said first named compartment having a front wall provided with an opening at its lower edge through which the said slate and other refuse matter is dis-- slate and refuse upon the said screen F through said separating compartment, "and means controlled by said variation in the height of the water in saidl separate compart ment for controlling'the discharge of slate and other refuse from said separating compartment. l A Y 10. In apparatus for washin coal to separate slate and other refuse therefrom, the combination of water supply means, a hydraulic separating compartment having a screen bottom through which water Hows from said supply means to effec-t separation ofthe coal from the slate and other refuse, the said'screen bottom constituting'a support or the slate and other refusematter settlin draulic separating compartment said hy- .draulic separating compartment having a upon the bottom of the said liyfront wall provided withv an opening at its lower edge through which the said slate and other refuse is discharged, a separate water containing compartment, `the said refuse discharge opening constituting a passage for water from the first tothe second named compartment, the water inthe said passage constituting a liquid connection between the water in the two compartments, the water entering the said passage being caused to pass first through the slate and other refuse upon the said screen bottom so that the height o water in the said second named compartment varies, Heat means for said separate compartment, said float means being controlled by the height of water in said second compartment, and means connected with said ioat means and .controlled thereby for regullating and controlling the discharge of slate and other refuse from said separating. compartment.

11. A classifier comprising a hydraulic separating compartment, liquid supply Ineans connected to the bottom. of the separating compartment, means providing a settled refuse discharge from said separating compartment, a lwater containing float chamber separate from said separating compartment, float mea-ns in said float chamber andr means controlled by said float means to regulate the discharge of settled solids through said refuse discharge, there being liquidcommunication between said liquid supply means through said separating compartment and the settled material therein to said float water chamber whereby said float means regulates the discharge from said separating compartment, in accordance with the variable resistance to water iow aforded by said settled refuse material.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing as our inventlon, We have hereunto slgned our names this sixth day of January, 1927.

. ANDREW WITZAL.

ANTHONY G. RABEL. HARRY F. STEVENS. 

